Major Anti-Encroachment Drive at Isnapur Lake
In a significant move to reclaim water bodies, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), in a massive joint operation with the police department, conducted a large-scale demolition drive at Isnapur Lake on Monday. This action comes shortly after a similar mega drive at Chandola Lake.
The authorities successfully razed over 900 illegal structures, freeing an estimated 90,000 square metres of the lake area from encroachments. The total area of Isnapur Lake is approximately 95,640 square metres.
Massive Manpower and Machinery Deployed
The operation, which lasted from 7 am to 6 pm, was a monumental task backed by substantial resources. A combined force of 700 personnel from various AMC departments – including estate, engineering, health, fire, and UCD – and 550 police personnel was deployed on the ground.
They were supported by a fleet of heavy machinery, including 12 Hitachi excavators, eight JCB machines, 12 dumpers, and 12 pusher machines. The entire lake was strategically divided into four parts, with 20 joint teams working simultaneously to ensure efficiency.
Safety Measures and Rehabilitation Efforts
Emphasizing safety and humanitarian considerations, the AMC took several precautionary steps. "Keeping everyone’s safety in mind, before starting the work, the electricity connection provided in the houses was removed," an AMC official stated.
Residents were given adequate time to collect their belongings. The UCD department arranged for 44 families to be transported to the nearest shelter home using AMTS buses. Furthermore, two teams each from the fire and medical departments were kept on standby to prevent any untoward incidents.
The civic body had issued multiple notices over the preceding two months, including personal notices, public announcements in newspapers, hoardings, and auto-rickshaw announcements, urging voluntary evacuation. A final notice was issued on November 20, with an additional four-day grace period considering residents' requests.
For those who had lived in the area for years, the AMC called for applications with evidence for allotting housing on humanitarian grounds under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) 2.0 scheme. The allotment will proceed after verification of these applications.
Future Development Plans for the Lake
The AMC has confirmed that the development of Isnapur Lake is part of the current year's budget. The next phase involves clearing the debris from the demolished structures.
An official elaborated on the plan: "The lake will be filled with rainwater through the stormwater line, due to which the surrounding water logging spots will be eliminated." This initiative marks a continued effort by the AMC to remove encroachments and develop the city's lakes, improving the urban environment and water management in Ahmedabad.
